The deal, disclosed on a VoiceCSEA.org Web page and labeled "Not for distribution," came about in recent months as Paterson talked of cutting personnel costs and promised to veto any bill that doesn't have funds to cover government mandates.

Terms identified in the CSEA draft summary say the unions will work with the state to improve benefits for the home care providers. The state will agree to pay $5 million in fiscal 2010-2011 to provide Family Health Plus coverage for child care workers; another $9 million in the same fiscal year to expand and enroll them in the program; and $3 million to ensure workplace safety. Also, the unions will set up a professional development fund for child care workers, and the state will provide $500,000 for it.

The agreement says the state will require that each county to hire child care workers will arrange for the checkoff of union dues from providers' compensation payments in the amount specified by the union. Also, Paterson's office will "prepare a governor's program bill to be submitted to the Legislature when it is next in session authorizing an agency fee agreement between the unions and the Office of Children and Family Services." The agency fee means that all workers will pay dues — even if they are not in the union. The overall deal is to last between Oct. 1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2011.

OCFS spokesman Eddie Borges said the announcement is premature. "The general outline has been worked out," he said, "but the details are still being finalized." He said there is no fiscal impact analysis yet because "we don't have a final agreement."

But Stephen Madarasz, a spokesman for CSEA, said, "We actually did come to an agreement with them about a month ago."

He said much of the money agreed to is already being spent, but now it will be redirected and more efficiently used to make sure benefits are provided to the child care workers. "This has been a group of people that had no real rights or benefits as workers, who were providing a service in large part subsidized by the state," he said. The agreement stems from a 2007 order by Gov. Eliot Spitzer giving child care providers the right to organize.

Who do you love?

Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb has mailed an "official statewide policy poll" without his members or Democratic members knowing, angering some after it began showing up in post boxes. The letters, with Kolb's picture and message, ask 20 questions including how you rate your Assembly member. The choices include, "I dislike my Assembly member and do not think they accomplish much."

Incumbents are not pleased. Answers could be enlightening and help find the politically vulnerable. Another question: "If you were governor, what is one thing you would do to improve the quality of life for residents of our state?"

Kolb's spokesman said the letters, costing $20,913 to mail, were sent to 90,000 households without targeting any district or member. Results will be aggregated and released.

James M. Odato can be reached at 454-5083 or by e-mail at jodato@timesunion.com.